How to use Geo-Services

Geo-Services is a feature available with your TELUS SmartHome Security System that allows you to be more connected to your home. With Geo-Services enabled, you can automate home settings and initiate additional notifications based on the location of your iPhone or Android phone relative to your home, office or any other Geo-Fence set up.

You can enable Geo-Services either through your TELUS SmartHome app on your mobile phone by following the instructions below:

1. Log into the TELUS SmartHome app
2. Tap Menu (three lines) at the top left hand corner of the screen
3. Tap Geo-Services
4. Tap the Geo-Services toggle switch to enable it
   
5. If asked, tap Turn On to turn on Geo-Services
6. Geo-Services is now enabled for the device and appears as a Geo-Device on the web portal

Once a Geo-Device is set up, a Geo-Fence is created. A Geo-Fence is a virtual geographic boundary used for Geo-Services. To create or adjust Geo-Fences, follow the instructions below:

1. Log into the web portal
2. Click Settings
3. Click Geo-Services
4. To edit a Geo-Fence, click the name of the Geo-Fence to edit under Geo-Fences
5. To add a new Geo-Fence, click + Add a Fence
6. To move the fence location, either click and drag the location marker on the map, or enter a specific address in the Move fence location to field
   Note: The center of the fence defaults to your address
7. In the Fence Name field, enter a name for the Geo-Fence
8. To adjust the radius, either click and drag the Geo-Fence anchors on the map overlay, or enter the desired radius in the Radius field (in miles)
   Note: The radius defaults to the minimum fence size. The minimum Geo-Fence radius is 1 mile (1.6 kilometres), and the maximum is 100 miles (160 kilometres). If the customer's account is in Canada, the minimum radius is 3 kilometres and the maximum is 150 kilometres.
9. Click Save

See below for an example of the Geo-Services page.

Once you enable a Geo-Device, you can configure desired Geo-Service rules or notifications.

1. Log into the web portal
2. Click Settings
3. Click Geo-Services
4. In Set up Geo-Features, you will find a list of notification reminders and rules available for you to create. Click to select the rule or reminder to create it

To delete a Geo-Device using the web portal, follow the instructions below:

1. Log in to the web portal web portal
2. Click Settings
3. Click Geo-Services
4. Click the Geo-Device to be deleted
5. Click the trash icon
6. Click Ok

To delete a Geo-Device using the TELUS SmartHome app, follow the instructions below:

1. Log in to the TELUS SmartHome app
2. Tap Menu (three lines) at the top left hand corner of the screen
3. Tap Geo-Services
4. Tap the Geo-Services toggle switch to the left position. This indicates that Geo-Services have successfully been disabled for the device

Best practices and reminders:

• The lower the data connection and/or coverage in the area, the less accurate Geo-Service is. The reverse is true as well
• Staying close to the Geo-Fence, or only barely crossing it can mean that the device never triangulates outside of the Geo-Fence. This can cause notifications or actions to incorrectly trigger or not trigger at all
• Increasing the Geo-Fence radius can help provide more accurate notifications based on location
• Wi-Fi can be used as a data connection for triangulation. The device does not need to be connected for triangulation to occur
• The more accurate Geo-Fence radius sizes are around or larger than 2 to 2.5 miles radius. The minimum radius can be one mile but is not recommended

Troubleshooting tips:

1. Verify Geo-Services is set up properly
   Verify you have the feature enabled and notifications setup properly.

2. Verify location services is turned on
   Verify your location services are turned on for both your mobile device and the TELUS SmartHome app.
   Note: iPhones and Android phones also require location services to be turned on specifically for the app through phone settings.

3. Verify the correct device is enabled for Geo-Services
   You can verify if the correct mobile device is enabled by turning Geo-Services off in the app. Next, log in to the web portal to verify if the correlating device is paused (if it is, it will be grayed out). Once you verify the correct device, make sure to re-enable the Geo-Device after.

4. Increase the Geo-Fence size
   Increase the fence size to a minimum of 2 to 2.5 mile radius. If it is already set to a 2.5 mile radius, increase the Geo-Fence radius to 5 miles.

5. Enable Wi-Fi on the Geo-Device
   Enable Wi-Fi on the phone that is a Geo-Device on the account. This may help with triangulation if there are not many towers in that area. Turning on Bluetooth can also help.
   Note: The Geo-Device is not required to be connected to a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth network to function.

If your Geo-Services issue is still unresolved, perform the following steps in this order:

1. Disable Geo-Services in the TELUS SmartHome app
2. Delete the Geo-Device on the web portal
3. Force close the TELUS SmartHome app
4. Re-enable Geo-Services in the TELUS SmartHome app
5. Add the device back to the Geo-Fence rules or notifications
6. Sync the Geo-Device by crossing in and out of the Geo-Fence
7. Test by crossing the fence again

Note: Geo-Services uses triangulation to conserve battery power. The device should pass a significant distance over the geo-fence in either direction to register crossing the geo-fence.

If your issue still persists, call TELUS at 1-855-255-8828.